from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Dead languages don't change and evolve. It's the languages that people speak the most that develop new words and new dialects. In the past, it's been difficult to track the evolution of language, but with more and more wiretapped phonecalls digital voice recordings available for analysis, linguists are in a better position to study how languages are changing. Here are just a few interesting links on language dialects.

from the here's-your-chance dept

In 2009, I attended Midem for the first time. It's an event that the music industry has put on for decades. Over the past few years, they've really embraced the idea that the music industry needs to adapt and modernize and have continuously brought in a stream of speakers and participants showing that there are ways for the industry to thrive. In 2009, they invited me to present a case study on Trent Reznor, which remains one of the most popular presentations I've ever given. Four years later I still get at least an email a week about it, and sometimes more.

The next year I went back to Midem and ran a workshop (not videotaped, unfortunately!) which was a lot of fun. We helped a bunch of industry folks think through ways to take existing acts and rethink business models and how they could better connect with fans. It was a blast. Last year, I was back on the main stage giving a presentation on how the state of the entertainment industry, and how it's actually going much better than some would believe.

That was the launch of our Sky is Rising report, and also talked about how being more open, human and awesome was a tremendous way to stand out from others in the entertainment industry.

Unfortunately, due to some other commitments, I can't make it to the next Midem coming up at the end of January, but the organizers are trying something different this year. Rather than handpicking all of the speakers like they normally do, they'd like to try out some "new blood," and have opened up a Speak at Midem Competition, letting anyone under the age of 30 pitch the Midem organizers as to why you should get to give your presentation on the Midem stage. For anyone looking to take part, the initial form is here, but I can say that presenting at Midem has been tremendously helpful to me over the years. So, if you have something unique to say about the industry, and want a giant stage to present it on (and you're under 30...), why not toss in a submission?

from the sad dept

We've written a few times about the unfortunate saga of 4-year-old Maya Nieder and her mother, Dana. Due to a ridiculous patent dispute, the one thing that allows Maya to speak -- an app called "Speak for Yourself" -- may get shut down. Back in June we were disappointed that, despite no request for an injunction, Apple decided to pull the app in question from its iOS store, citing the ongoing lawsuit. Maya can continue to use it for now, but it could go away and they wouldn't be able to get it back. Many people in our comments suggested that SfY should release an Android app. And they did... but a recent update from Dana notes that Google removed the app from its Play store as well, per the request of Prentke Romich Company & Semantic Compaction Systems (the patent holder and licensee suing SfY). While it's much easier to install 3rd party apps on Android devices without going through the Play Store, it's still surprising and disappointing that Google would join Apple in pulling this app before there's been any official ruling on the matter.

In the meantime, Dana also points out that PRC -- who didn't have an iOS app itself through all of this -- has finally released one in the iTunes store. Even though this seems ridiculous -- since they were able to shut down the competition and now have a clearer playing field -- Dana celebrates this entrance into the market because making more of these apps available can only help speech-challenged people speak. And, in the end, shouldn't that be the overriding concern?

She also mentions that the two sides met for court-ordered mediation, and asked the court to stay the case for 30 days to continue the process. So there's some hope for a settlement allowing the SfY app to live on. Either way, it's yet another example of companies using (often questionable) patents to cause real harm, rather than spreading innovation and helping people.

from the perhaps-someone-will-leak-a-pass? dept

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, is hosting a conference about The Media World after Wikileaks and News of the World. Sounds like it could be an interesting event, but one organization not happy about it... is Wikileaks. Seeing as it was a conference that touched on Wikileaks' interests directly, Wikileaks asked to take part, and was instead denied a chance to speak at the event. When asked about this, UNESCO actually claimed that choosing to not allow Wikileaks attendees was an exercise in "freedom of expression," which seems like a poor choice of words.

Of course, Wikileaks doesn't come out of this looking very good either. In unfortunately typical overstatement from Wikileaks, it tries to paint this as some big censorship issue, but that seems like an exaggeration. UNESCO noted that Julian Assange's legal advisor is taking part, as are numerous news organizations that partnered with Wikileaks. Wikileaks complains that even if Assange's legal counsel will be on one panel, there's no Wikileaks representation on other panels. Now, if I were organizing the event, I might use that as an opportunity to invite direct representatives of the site... if only for the fact that it would draw more interest to many of the discussions. However, beyond the irony of telling Wikileaks it can't speak at an event about Wikileaks, it really seems like the site is trying to make a bigger deal out of this than is justified.

from the your-choice dept

January is shaping up to be quite a busy month for me in terms of speaking at various events, so I wanted to do a quick blog post highlighting places where I'll be speaking this month... along with sending out a party invite.

First up, we've got Las Vegas for CES, where I'll be speaking on what looks to be a fantastic panel about "the content industry" in the digital age. The other panelists will be Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad/Public Enemy), Julie Samuels from EFF and Paul Geller from Grooveshark. That's Tuesday January 10th at 2pm. If you're coming to that, I also have to recommend that you show up early for the panel right before ours (starting at 12:30pm), which will be all about SOPA, and will include some Congressional staffers (Ryan Clough from Rep. Zoe Lofgren's office and Jayme White from Senator Wyden's office), as well as Christian Dawson (of SaveHosting), Casey Rae-Hunter (from Future of Music Coalition) and Laeff Mtima, a professor from Howard University who has done fantastic work on how IP laws have been used to stymie social justice.

Also, if you are going to CES (even if you don't come to the panel), I want to invite you to a special private party being hosted by our partner SAY Media at the brand new 10oak at the Mirage. This club just opened on New Year's Eve, so you'll be one of the first to check it out, and there will be a performance by the awesome indie band Givers, along with tons of great people around, some cool tech giveaways (of course) and cocktails (also, of course). If you've never been to a SAY Media party, you're missing out. They know how to throw a good party. Since it's a private party, you'll need to RSVP and have a CES delegate's badge. To RSVP you have to send an email to CESParty@saymedia.comwith the code TD VIP to get onto the guest list. If you're not on the list, you won't get in... Update: Just realized it might help if I said when the party is: it's Tuesday, January 10th, 8pm until midnight...

After you're done with Vegas, head over to Washington DC the following week, for the Congressional Internet Caucus' State of the Net event, which runs January 17th and 18th. I don't think the full schedule is out yet, but I'll be speaking on a panel about SOPA/PIPA in the main hall on the 17th. I imagine that will be a fun time for all involved...

Jump forward to January 29th and jump across the Atlantic to the MIDEM conference (the big music industry trade show) in Cannes and I'll be doing a few things there including some mentor sessions, a "MIDEM Academy" one hour session about new business models on Sunday January 29th. Then, on Monday at 12:20 pm (precisely, so don't be late!) I'll be doing a "Visionary Monday" presentation about both the state of the the entertainment industry, including where the big opportunities are. Think of it as the sequel to the big CwF+RtB presentation I did a few years ago...

I think that's about it for now... Hope I get to meet some folks from the Techdirt community at each of these events...

from the come-out-and-chat dept

A quick note on three upcoming events at which I'll be speaking:

Tuesday, January 12th, I'm on a panel at the first ever World Fair Use Day in Washington, DC. The event is being put on by the folks at Public Knowledge and should be a lot of fun. For those attending or in the area, you should also check out the Fair Use Film Screening the night before, where they'll be showing clips from Brett Gaylor's RIP: A Remix Manifesto and Kembrew McLeod's Copyright Criminals

Friday, January 15th, I'll be on a Churchill Club panel on Journalism After Print. That's in Palo Alto, California.

Sunday, January 24th, I'll be running a special brainstorming workshop on new music business models at Midem in Cannes, France, which is where I did the big Trent Reznor case study last year.

from the talk-talk-talk dept

As regular readers of this site know, I'm pretty passionate about how businesses need to understand the economics of "free" in figuring out how to create business models that work. So, I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting and emceeing the newly announced Free! Summit, to be held in Silicon Valley on May 11th.

Chris Anderson (whose book on "Free" will be coming out in just a few months) will be keynoting, and we're pulling together the rest of the participants as well. The event is being produced by the fine folks from Tech Policy Central, and works as a nice lead-in to their Tech Policy Summit that will start immediately after the Free! Summit concludes. In fact, attending the Free! Summit gets you access to the opening session of the Tech Policy Summit as well. And, yes, registration to The Free! Summit is, in fact, free. But... there are a limited number of seats, so sign up now. Also, we're very much looking for individuals or organizations interested in presenting case studies on how they've used free as a part of their business model. We already have a few lined up, but feel free to suggest others of interest.

I hope that many of you can join us for what I'm sure will be a great series of discussions on "free" and what it means for business models, policy and the economy.
Separately, there are a few other events I'll be participating in that are worth mentioning:

First up, I'm going to be keynoting the Leadership Music Digital Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, to be held on March 23 -- March 25th, where I'll be doing an updated version of my MidemNet talk. It's yet another chance to talk with folks from in and around the music industry.

Next, I'm thrilled to be keynoting the Mesh Conference in Toronto, Canada, being held April 7th and 8th. I've attended Mesh the past two years, and it's a fantastic event for (as they say) connecting, sharing and inspiring around all sorts of new ideas relating to the internet, media and new business models. That talk will be a brand new one focusing on digital media business models, followed by an interview with Mathew Ingram and a Q&A. If you're in the Toronto area, don't miss it.

Also, the week of March 8 - 14th, I'll (once again) be in Edinburgh, Scotland, giving a whole series of talks at the University of Edinburgh. I'm not entirely sure which of the talks are public and which are for students only, but two events that I know are public are the talk I'll be giving to the Edinburgh Entrepreneurship Club on What Makes Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley on March 10th and then I'll be attending/participating at a special BarCamp Scotland on March 14th.

Because I'm in Scotland that week, I won't be able to attend Canadian Music Week in person in Toronto, unfortunately, but they will be showing my MidemNet talk during one of the sessions on music business models.

Finally, unfortunately with all the travel on my schedule, I'm going to be unable to personally attend David Isenberg's fantastic Freedom to Connect even in Washington DC on March 30th and 31st, but if you're anywhere in the area, you shouldn't miss it. It's a great event focused on "the emerging internet economy" with a strong focus on the policy angles related to internet connectivity these days. You're probably already aware of Isenberg from his regular writings on the subject, but he pulls together such a great braintrust for his events that you'd be crazy to miss it if you're in the area. And, along those lines, he's agreed to offer Techdirt readers a special $100 discount on registering for the event. Prices actually go up this Saturday, so if you want to attend, you should register now...

That's it in terms of speaking events for now. There are, of course, a few other private speaking engagements that I'm doing (if you're interested in having me speak at private events, please contact us), and some other events that are in the works... In the meantime, I hope to see you at one of these events!